Programme E

8 or 9 DAYS

Programme:

Day 1.   Arrival in Cheb
On your arrival to Cheb you will be met by your guide. En route to the spa towns, we will go to the castle of Frederick Barbarosa, in which Albrecht von Valdstein the commander in chief of the Austrian armies of the thirty years war was murdered and briefly inspect the museum. We then continue to “ Frantiskovy Lazne“ (Francis spa) where we have lunch, before which we briefly tour the spa.
After lunch we travel to the most famous Czech spa Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad or Charles spa) which has some of the most resplendant spa architecture from the end of the 19th. century and beginning of the 20th. century. It was the most modern spa cnetre during the days of the old Austrian empire. Amongst those cured there were Tsars, Caesars, kings, musicians and authors and is now returning to its past fame. There you settle down in your hotel and have a brief rest. Afterwards we will tour the town and include in this outing the exhibition of Moser - the manufacturer of the some of the most beautiful crystal in the world, also known as Caesar's glass. Dinner is at the hotel where you stay overnight.

Day 2.   More spas including Marianske Lazne /Marienbad/
We travel to Bečov nad Teplou where we visit the gothic castle, which has just been opened for the first time after 50 years. A jewel amongst the treasures of Romanesque period of art. This includes the reliquiary of St Maur which was discovered fairly recently. It was restored and was open to the public in 1997. We then see the premonstrant monastery in Teplá, which is also waking up from its long sleep of the 42 years of communist dictatorship when it belonged to the army. Its main treasure is a magnificent library.
We then continue on to Mariánské Lázně, the equally famous spa more commonly known as Marienbad. This is another example of a treasury of spa architecture from the 19th. and 20th. centuries. First we have lunch, then inspect the spa centre including the gem of a Russian church with an iconostas which was awarded the Grand Prix at the world exhibition in Paris in 1900.
We travel on to Kynžvart (Konigswart), where we view the famous castle of the Metternich princes. Then we return to “ Marianské lázně“ (Marienbad) for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3.   Plzen (Pilsen) - famed for the invention of lager
After breakfast we drive to Plzen (Pilsen), where we first inspect the main square and the “ chram sv. Bartolmeje“ (cathedral of St. Bartholemew), which is a gothic gem, with the highest spire in the Czech Republic and contains the famous statue of the Plzeň Madonna.
We then change the touristic mode and visit the Museum of beer and beer making. We have lunch in one of the splendid halls of the world renowned Pilsner brewery, which is the largest Czech Republic, established in 1842. Its best known brand is Plzeňský prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell), which is exported to 85 countries of the world. It is also possible to arrange a tour of the brewery and to see the brewing technology.
After our beer we leave for Krivoklát, to see another excellent example of Czech gothic town. Then we see the regal castle from the 13th. century, which has the largest gothic hall in Central Europe and contains a notable collection of gothic sculptures. The last owners were the Furstenberk princes.
Our final destination for the day is the village of Karlštejn (by Karlštejn castle), where we have dinner and stay overnight in hotel Koruna.

Day 4.   Karlštejn and Prague
After breakfast we inspect Karlštejn castle, the residence of the Czech and Roman Caesar Charles IV. We will make a complete inspection, which includes an extraordinary visit to Kaple sv. Kříže (the Chapel of the Holy Cross) in which were hidden the coronation regalia and the Caesar's treasure. We then depart for Prague, where we have lunch in our hotel and settle in.
We will spend the afternoon touring Prague. This will start from Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square) taking you to Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square), while passing palaces, well known coffee houses, theatres, famous churches which include - Panna Marie Sněžná (Our lady Mary in the Snow) and sv.(svatý) Havel (St. Havel), then on to the markets: Uhelný trh (Coal Market) and Ovocný trh (Fruit Market) ending our walk on Karlův most (Charles Bridge). We will return to the hotel for dinner, the evening is free. We will be delighted to arrange tickets for a concert or theatre e.g mime, if you wish.

Day 5.   The Prague Castle Hradčany and environs
Morning   You will be taken to Hradčany (Prague Castle) to see the Strahovský klášter (cloister) with its philosophical and theological hall libraries (which are one of the most beautiful in the world) and Obrazárna klášter (Picture Gallery Cloister), Loreta (with its priceless treasures - e.g. the monstrance "Pražské slunce" (Prague Sun), which is completed with 6,200 diamonds. The Černínský, Toskanský, Schwarzenberský and other palaces, and the picturesque quarter Nový Svět (New World).
Afternoon   Malá Strana (literally translated as Small Side but known as the "Lesser Quarter", which is the oldest part of Prague) - the magical town of art with its unforgettable corners and truly impressive palaces. Malostranské náměstí (square) with its unusual and exceptional chrám sv. Mikuláše (cathedral of St. Nicholas), the chef d'oeuvre Dietzenhofer.
We have a special viewing of the beautiful halls Valdštejn, the residence of the Grand Duke and General of the Caesar's armies from the thirty years war, which is to be the senate of the Czech Republic from autumn 1996. It is currently being restored for the first time in 58 years. To complete the day (dependent on the season) we can go to a concert in the chrám sv. Mikuláše (cathedral of St. Nicholas). Dinner at the hotel then to bed.

Day 6.   More details about Prague and a trip to Konopiště
We will go to its katedrála sv. Víta (cathedral of St. Vitus), the exceptionally beautiful exhibition of Czech art in the cloisters of sv. Jiří (St. George). Then we will visit Zlatá ulička (Golden Lane) the old alchemist street from which we will go down the old castle steps and descend to the island Kampa.
We will complete this part the tour with a walk round Malá Strana : see two small squares Maltézské and Velkopřevorské náměstí, go to the cathedral of Panna Marie před řetězem (our Lady Mary before the Chain).
We leave Malá Strana and walk across Karlův most (Charles Bridge) along the regal route by way of Karlova ulice showing reminders of the coronation acts. Then we take a short visit to Židovské Město (the former Jewish Quarter) with its renowned old Jewish Cemetery.
After lunch we leave Prague for Konopiště castle. We will go on two of the tourist routes in the castle, which was the summmer residence of the successor to the throne of Francis Ferdinand d'Este, who was murdered in Sarajevo in 1914. We will also see the largest collection of statues of St. George in the world and spending time we will take a walk through the beautiful English garden. Dinner will be in Konopiště at the game keepers lodge. We then return to Prague for overnight stay.

Day 7.   Final tour of Prague and a visit to Kutná Hora
We have a special viewing of the beautiful halls Valdštejn, the residence of the Grand Duke and General of the Caesar's armies from the thirty years war, which is to be the senate of the Czech Republic from autumn 1996. It is currently being restored for the first time in 58 years. To complete the day (dependent on the season) we can go to a concert in the chrám sv. Mikuláše (cathedral of St. Nicholas).
After early lunch we drive on to Kutná Hora, which was the second regal city after Prague, during the middle ages. This city is also in the UNESCO heritage listing. After inspecting the castle and brief excurision into the town, we return to Prague and stay at our hotel where we have dinner.

Day 8.   Departure or travel to Brno and Telč (Moravia)
For those of you who are staying longer we will see a bit of Moravia. Early departure to Brno over Zelená hora (Green mountain) and dive on to Telč, where we inspect the old town square and castle. We will stop here for lunch at the restaurant U Zachariáše. Before arriving in Brno we stop at Třebíč famous for its Benedictine monastery. In Brno we do a panoramic tour of the city, have dinner and stay overnight at hotel Slovan.

Day 9.   Lednice and Valtice then on to Bratislava or Vienna
First we visit Lednice to see the grandiose summer residence of the Lichtenstein princes. We will visit its park, which contains many fascinating buildings, that is regarded as one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. We then continue on to Valtice, which was an Austrian town annexed to Czechoslovakia after the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. Here we will stop for lunch, inspect the old residence of the Lichtenstein family, in which they lived until 1945. We will then go for a wine tasting in a local wine cellar.
Variant I - Bratislava   A country village lunch will be taken en route to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia after the 1993 break up of Czechoslovakia. We will have a tour of Bratislava and dinner in the hotel where you will be staying overnight.
Variant II - Vienna   On your route to Vienna we will stop at Mikulov, where we will have a short tour of the castle and look round the town. This town is in a protected area of the region Pálava called "moravská Itálie" ("Moravian Italy").